BANANA CULTIVAR NAMES AND SYNONYMS

IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

R. V. Valmayor1, S. H. Jamaluddin2, B. Silayoi3,

S. Kusumo4, L. D. Danh5, O. C. Pascua6 and R. R. C. Espino7

Introduction

Banana classification and nomenclature have long been a complicated issue.

The problem emanated from the simplistic description of plantain, Musa
paradisiaca Linn. and dessert banana, Musa sapientum Linn. by Karl Linnaeus,
the father of modern botanical nomenclature. This was attributed to the very
limited specimens available to him in Europe where the original names were
given. Hence, while the differentiation between banana and plantain, a special
type of cooking banana, is readily applicable in Africa and Latin America, adoption
in Southeast Asia has led to confusion. In Asia, the center of Musa diversity,
many local cultivars possess characteristics that transcend the diagnostic
characters used elsewhere to differentiate bananas from plantains.

Another common problem confronting banana taxonomists and horticulturists in

Southeast Asia is the presence of numerous cultivar names and synonyms in
different languages and dialects of the region. In most cases, the same cultivars
are known by different names in different countries. Occasionally, the same
name is applied to distinct cultivars. Phonetic variations associated with tonal
languages in Asia often result to differences in spelling.

Wasteful duplication in the conduct of basic studies could have been avoided
had researchers in Southeast Asia known that the banana cultivars they studied
separately were actually one and the same clone. Knowledge of synonyms can
promote regional understanding and communication as well as banana trade
and commerce. Solutions to these problems were the subject of a regional
workshop held at the Southeast Asian Banana Germplasm Resources Center in
Davao, Philippines on September 14, 1999. The workshop was co-sponsored
by International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain (INIBAP-
ASPNET) and (Bureau of Plant Industry/Davao National Crop Research and
Development Center (BPI/DNCRDC) of the Department of Agriculture.

1. Honorary Research fellow, INIBAP-ASPNET

2. Curator, Malaysian Banana Collection, MARDI
3. Curator, Thailand Banana Collection, KU
4. Curator, Indonesian Banana Collection, CRIH
5. Curator, Vietnam Banana Collection, Phu Ho
6. Curator, Philippine Banana Collection, BPI
2 Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Participants were the curators of National Banana Germplasm Collections of

Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Status of Banana Classification and Nomenclature in Southeast Asia

The first scientific term given to banana is Musa paradisiaca Linn. published
in 1753 by Linnaeus in his book Species Plantarum, the origin of modern botanical
nomenclature. His simple description was based on a plantain cultivar bearing
long and slender fruits that remain starchy even when fully ripe. The fruits are
cooked before they become palatable and consumed. The male flowers and
bracts of plantains are usually persistent and remain as dried relics on the male
bud rachis. Later, Linneaus published Musa sapientum Linn. in Systema
Naturae in 1759 to describe a dessert banana which bear sweet fruits that are
eaten fresh upon ripening. The male flowers and bracts of the second species
are dehiscent, exposing a clean rachis. The common cultivars of banana and
plantain in Latin America and West Africa closely fit the Linnean descriptions,
and the two scientific names remained in wide usage for almost two centuries.
However, their adoption in Southeast Asia generated confusions from early on.

In the center of diversity for bananas, many cultivars are classified as dual
purpose, wherein the fruits are consumed either fresh or cooked. There are
also many starchy, cooking cultivars with short, stout and angular fruits with
dehiscent male flowers and bracts. These culinary bananas are distinct from
the plantains and cannot be classified under Musa paradisiaca. Furthermore,
the great diversity of dessert bananas in terms of plant stature, fruit size and
color (yellow, green, red, and orange) far exceed the rather limited description
of the original Musa sapientum. To cope with the wealth in germplasm diversity
in its center of origin, subsequent banana taxonomists applied such descriptive
names as Musa nana Lour. for the Dwarf Cavendish, Musa rubra Firming.
von Wall. for the Red banana, Musa corniculata Lour. for the horn plantain,
and many others. The proliferation of scientific names added more confusion to
banana nomenclature. The situation would have aggravated if it were not for
Cheesman (1948) and Simmonds and Shepherd (1955) who explained the origin
of edible bananas and proposed a new classification scheme.

Drawing upon their expertise in genetics and their vast experience in

cytotaxonomy, Simmonds and Shepherd concluded that the Linnean scientific
names Musa paradisiaca and Musa sapientum were based on hybrid cultivars
and hence, recommended their abolition. They likewise concluded that the
edible bananas originated from two wild and seedy species, Musa acuminata
Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla which are endemic to Southeast Asia.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 3

Cheesman recognized three groups of morphologically distinct cultivars. The

first group shows predominantly the botanical characters of Musa acuminata
while the second group of cultivars primarily exhibit the morphological features
of Musa balbisiana. The third group possesses characteristics that combine
the morphological characters of the two wild species and are considered as
their natural hybrids. The primitive edible bananas are diploids that evolved
through the development of sterility and parthenocarpy in Musa acuminata.
Through human selection, various clones were brought under cultivation in the
rainy parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia. Later, through
chromosome restitution, seedless triploid cultivars developed. Since triploids
proved to be more vigorous and productive, they gained greater popularity.
Cheesman argued that the seedless, edible diploid cultivars of Musa acuminata
must be classified in the same species as their wild parents as they retained the
morphological characteristics of their wild ancestors. Likewise, the seedless
and edible triploid cultivars that developed through chromosome restitution must
also be recognized as the same species as their parents because the addition of
one set of chromosomes through autopolyploidy did not introduce anything new
to the genetic constitution of the clone.

In the drier areas of Asia where the wild and seedy Musa balbisiana
predominates, a parallel evolutionary development occurred which led to the
appearance of pure diploid and triploid balbisiana cultivars first recognized in
the Philippines (Valmayor, et al., 1991). Since the development of sterility and
parthenocarpy did not significantly alter the morphological characteristics of the
resultant clones, the scientific name Musa balbisiana should also be applied to
the edible diploid and triploid cultivars derived from the wild balbisiana parents.
In the center of origin of bananas, the natural distribution of wild Musa acuminata
and Musa balbisiana overlap, and since the two species are cross compatible,
hybridization occurred. The hybrids that evolved from the two natural species
include diploids, triploids and a few tetraploids in various genome combinations.
Figure 1 shows the various pathways leading to the development of edible
bananas. A major concern about the original terms Musa paradisiaca and
Musa sapientum is their hybrid nature. However, according to rules of the
International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), hybrids
can also be given a scientific name. However, the epithet must carry the prefix
x to indicate the hybrid nature of the species. In the case of hybrid banana
cultivars, Musa x paradisiaca Linn. should be adopted as this binomial was
published ahead of Musa sapientum and is in fact recognized as the type species
for the banana. Musa x paradisiaca Linn. is applicable to all hybrids of
Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana notwithstanding their genome
composition (Greuter, 1995; Karamura, 1998).
4 Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Modern taxonomy using isozymes (Espino and Pimentel, 1990) and molecular
markers (Jarret, 1990)confirmed the multi-specific origin of edible bananas.
The application of molecular taxonomy is particularly useful in banana classification
because recent studies have shown that chloroplastic DNA is inherited from
the female parent while mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the male parent.
The use of nuclear or cytoplasmic RFLP probes now enable researchers to
precisely determine the maternal and paternal origins of banana cultivars (Lanaud,
1999). Leading research institutions in Southeast Asia are now developing
probes based on original and authentic germplasm.

Figure 1. Diagram showing the various pathways leading to the de-

velopment of edible bananas.
Musa acuminata Musa balbisiana
(wild, diploid AAw) (wild, diploid BBw)

Musa acuminata Musa x paradisiaca Musa balbisiana

(edible, diploids AAcv) (edible, diploid (edible, diploids BBcv)
Ex. Pisang Mas or Sucrier hybrids AB) Ex. Abuhon
Ex. Chuoi Com Lao

x x

Musa acuminata Musa x paradisiaca Musa x paradisiaca Musa balbisiana

(edible, triploids AAA) (edible, triploid (edible, triploid (edible, triploids BBB)
Ex. Pisang Ambon or hybrids AAB) hybrids, ABB) Ex. Saba, Pisang Kepok,
Gros Michel Ex. Pisang Rastali Ex. Kluai Hak Muk Pisang Nipah,
or Silk Khieo or Bluggoe Kluai Hin

Musa x paradisiaca Musa x paradisiaca

(edible, tetraploid (edible, tetraploid
hybrid AABB) hybrid ABBB)
Ex. Kluai Ngoen Ex. Kluai Theparrot

The diagram illustrated in Figure 1 highlights the role of Musa acuminata and
Musa balbisiana in the evolution of edible bananas. It also shows that the two
species comprise both wild and cultivated forms. The chart also projects the
important role of interspecific hybridization in the proliferation of edible clones.
The parents of hybrid triploids are not limited to the edible diploids as shown in
the simplified chart. It can also be traced back to the wild species. Figure 1 no
longer show the term Musa sapientum, the popular term for dessert bananas.
The tetraploids could evolve through various possible combinations.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 5

Current Regional Banana Classification Scheme in Southeast Asia

Two natural species and a hybrid complex make up the edible bananas of today.
This situation has rendered the identification of cultivars difficult. To cope with
the problem, the authors agreed to adopt the three tiers system namely species,
genome group, and cultivar, in classifying bananas and identifying cultivar names
and synonyms of the region. The taxonomic scorecard suggested by Silayoi
and Chomchalow (1987), a modified version of the original designed by Simmonds
and Shepherd, was found very useful in segregating the numerous banana varieties
into six genome groups. Table 1 presents the 15 diagnostic characters used to
differentiate Musa acuminata clones from Musa balbisiana cultivars and their
hybrids. The cultivars are classified by inspecting the expression of each of the
15 characters shown in Figure 2 and assigning a score of 1 for each character
that adheres closely with wild acuminata and 5 for characters with extreme
balbisiana expression. This scoring technique provides for a range of 15 (15 x
1) for wild acuminata and 75 (15 x 5) for wild balbisiana species. Intermediate
expressions of the characters are assigned scores ranging from 2, 3, or 4
depending on intensity. The hybrid cultivars, therefore, should have total scores
between 15 and 75. In actual practice, slight deviations are allowed. Table 2
shows the six genome groups and the expected range of scores the cultivars
under study will generate. Pure acuminata varieties should have scores between
15 to 25 while pure balbisiana cultivars should range between 70 to 75. The
hybrids are expected to score between 26 to 69 points.

After identifying the species and genome group, the individual cultivars are
classified following the latest version of Descriptors for Banana (Musa spp.)
and Musa Germplasm Information System (MGIS) published by INIBAP/IPGRI
and CIRAD. The highly discriminating descriptors on plant stature, pseudostem
and leaf characteristics, bunch and fruit characters, male bud and male flower
characters are recorded. Horticultural performance such as data from planting
to flowering, from flowering to harvest, harvest to first ratoon, number of suckers
at first harvest, bunch weight, number of hands and fingers, fruit size and quality
are observed. With the aid of botanical illustrations, photographs and actual
field study and observation at the regional banana variety collection of BPI in
Davao, an inventory of cultivar names and synonyms was prepared by the
curators of national banana variety collections of Southeast Asia. Table 3 presents
the list of banana cultivar names and synonyms of Southeast Asia while Table 4
presents the list of cultivars unique to each country of the region. Table 5
summarizes the number of cultivars under the two natural and one hybrid species.
Data shows that Musa acuminata clones far exceed the number of Musa
balbisiana varieties. The figures also show that AAB hybrids are more
6 Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Table 1. Characters used in the classification of bananas through a

taxonomic scorecard.
Character Musa acuminata Musa balbisiana
Pseudostem color More or less heavily marked Blotches slight or absent
with brown or black blotches
Petiolar canal Margin erect or spreading, Margin inclosed, not winged
with scarious wings below, below, clasping pseudostem
not clasping pseudostem
Peduncle Usually downy or hairy Glabrous
Pedicels Short Long
Ovules Two regular rows in each Four irregular rows in each
loculus loculus
Bract shoulder Usually high (ratio < 0.28) Usually low (ratio > 0.30)
Bract curling* Bract reflex and roll back Bracts lift but do not roll
after opening
Bract shape Lanceolate or narrowly Broadly ovate, not tapering
ovate, sharply
tapering sharply from the
shoulder
Bract apex Acute Obtuse
Bract color Red, dull purple or yellow Distinctive brownish-purple
outside; pink, dull purple or outside; bright crimson
inside
yellow inside
Color fading Inside bract color fades to Inside bract color
yellow towards the base continuous
to base
Bract scars Prominent Scarcely prominent
Free tepal of Variably corrugated below Rarely corrugated
male flower tip
Male flower Creamy white Variably flushed with pink
color
Stigma color Orange or rich yellow Cream, pale yellow or pale
pink

* In varieties with persistent male bracts, curling is weak or absent, regardless of

genotype (Source: Simmonds and Shepherd, 1955).
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 7

Figure 2. Important characters used in determining species and ge-

nome groups of edible banana.

(Source: IBPGR Revised Banana Descriptors, 1984)

Table 2. Genome groups and their respective score ranges .

Genome Group Score

AA/AAA 15-25
AAB 26-46
AB/AABB 47-49
ABB 59-63
ABBB 67-69
BB/BBB 70-75

(Source: Silayoi and Chomchalow, 1987)

 8

Table 3. Banana cultivar names and synonyms in Southeast Asia.

Species,Genome Philippines Malaysia Indonesia Thailand Vietnam International
Musa acuminata Amas Pisang Mas Pisang Mas Kluai Khai Chuoi Trung Sucrier
Diploid AA Kinamay Dalaga Pisang Pinang Pisang Pinang Kluai Lep Mu Nang
(dessert) Veinte Cohol Pisang Masam Pisang Masam Kluai Hom Thong Son
Tudlo Datu Pisang Jari Buaya Pisang Jari Buaya Chuoi Tieu Jari Buaya
Tudlo Tumbaga Pisang Kole Chuoi Tay But
Pamoti-on Chuoi Cau Trang
Morong Princesa Pisang Gadis Kluai Thong Ruang Chuoi Ngu Thoc
Lonsing Pisang Lidi
Bata-Bata Kluai Sa Chuoi Ngu Tien
Manang Kluai Hom Jan
Rawari Pisang Perecet
Inarnibal Pisang Empat Puluh Pisang Lampung
Hari
Mama-on Pisang Lemak Manis Pisang Lemak Manis
Terenganu
Pisang Lemak Manis Pisang Muli
Kelantan
Pisang Lilin Pisang Lilin
Pisang Mas Sagura Kluai Thong Ki Maew
Pisang Ekor Kuda Kluai Thong Kap Dam
Diploid AA Pogpogon Chuoi Tien
(dual purpose, Alaswe Pisang Kapas Pisang Kapas
consumed either
fresh or cooked)
Diploid/triploid Lakatan 1 Pisang Berangan Pisang Barangan Kluai Hom Maew Lakatan
AA/AAA Kuning Kuning
(dessert) Lakatan 1 Pisang Berangan Pisang Barangan Kluai Ngang Phaya Lakatan
Merah Merah
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia
Musa acuminata Sulay Baguio Pisang Serendah Pisang Badak Kluai Hom Khieo Chuoi Tieu Lun Dwarf Cavendish,
Triploid AAA Khom Enano
(dessert), Tumok Pisang Cina Pisang Ambon Hijau Kluai Khlong Chang Chuoi Tieu Nho Giant Cavendish,
(Cavendish) Gran Enano
Tudok Pisang Buai Pisang Ambon Putih Chuoi Tieu Xanh Robusta
Bugulan Pisang Masak Hijau Pisang Ambon Kluai Hom Khieo Chuoi Tieu Cao #1 Tall Cavendish,
Lumut Lacatan
Grande Naine Pisang Ambon Chuoi Va Huong Grande Naine
Jepang
Pastilan Pisang Ambon
Filippina/ P. Lasse
Ambon Pisang Embun Pisang Ambon Kluai Hom Thong Chuoi Tieu Cao #2 Gros Michel
(non-Cavendish) Kuning
Bangan Pisang Angleng Kluai Dok Mai Chuoi Tieu Vua
Pisang Susu Pisang Susu Kluai Nam Nom
Morado Pisang Raja Udang Pisang Udang Kluai Nak Chuoi Com Lua Red, Rojo, Morado
Merah2
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Moradong Puti Pisang Raja Udang Pisang Telor Kluai Kung Khieo Green Red, Rojo
Hijau2 Verde, Morado
Verde
Oma Pisang Amping Pisang Ampyang
Pisang Potho Wangi Kluai Khai Bong Chuoi Bom
Pisang Pelimbing Pisang Palembang
Musa x paradisiaca Latundan2 Pisang Rastali Pisang Raja Sereh Kluai Nam Chuoi Goong Silk, Manzana
Triploid AAB Inangel Pisang Keling3 Pisang Keling Kluai Lanka Chuoi Com Chua Mysore
(dessert) Galamay Seora Pisang Kelat Air Pisang Longong Kluai Nam Phat Chuoi Muop King
Daliri Dalaga Pisang Triolin
Radja Pisang Raja3 Pisang Raja Kluai Khai Boran #2 Raja
Ternate Pisang Bakaran Pisang Bakar
Pisang Seribu Pisang Seribu Kluai Roi Wi Chuoi Tram Nai Seribu
9
 Triploid AAB Tindok Pisang Tanduk Pisang Byar Kluai Klai Horn, Cuerno,
10

(cooking) Macho
(plantain) Patag Pisang Agung
Daluyao Pisang Lang Pisang Tanduk Kluai Nga Chang Chuoi Sung Bo
Bungaoisan Pisang Candi Nendran
Laknau Pisang Nangka Pisang Nangka Kluai Niu Charakne Laknau
Pisang Gading Pisang Gading
Maia Maole Pisang Maole Maole
(non-plantain) Duhoy Pisang Uli Chuoi Voi
Musa x paradisiaca Katali Pisang Awak3 Pisang Awak3 Kluai Namwa Luang Awak
Triploid ABB Siusok Pisang Siem3 Kluai Namwa Daeng Chuoi Tay
(dual purpose) Pisang Rasa Chuoi Mat Boket
Musa x paradisiaca Matavia Pisang Abu Keling Pisang Kosta Kluai Hak Muk Khieo Chuoi Ngop Lun Bluggoe, Chato
Triploid ABB Katsila Pisang Abu Perak Pisang Kosta Putih Kluai Hak Muk Khao Silver Bluggoe,
(cooking) Cenizo
Maduranga Pisang Abu Bujal Kluai Nom Mi Chuoi Ngop Cau Monthan
Pelipia Chuoi Ngop Cao Pelipita
Pisang Kari Kluai Tip

Musa x paradisiaca Tiparot Pisang Abu Siam Kluai Thepparot Chuoi Gao Tiparot, Tiparod
Tetraploid ABBB
Musa balbisiana Saba Pisang Nipah Pisang Kepok Kluai Hin Saba
Triploid BBB Cardaba Pisang Chematu Pisang Kepok Besar Chuoi Mat Cardaba
(cooking) Gubao Kluai Phama Haek Chuoi Ngu
Kuk
Pa-a Dalaga Chuoi Chua
Turangkog Pisang Kepok Chuoi Sap
Kuning
Sabang Puti Pisang Kapor Pisang Kepok Putih
Pondol Kluai Lep Chang Kut Chuoi Ngop Dui Duc Lep Chang Kut
Kalimpos4 Pisang Sepatu Amora
Giant Saba Pisang Lompo
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia
Table 4. Banana cultivars unique to each country in Southeast Asia.
Species, Genome Philippines Malaysia Indonesia Thailand Vietnam
Musa acuminata Bu-oy Pisang Serindek Pisang Cici Kuning Kluai Lai Chuoi Cau Man
Diploid AA Eda-an Pisang Jarum Pisang Cici Merah Kluai Nam Thai
(dessert) Ga-o Kluai Thong Det
Inabaca
Katil
Seorita
Suyak
Talipan

Diploid AA Binaktong
(cooking) Golimpang
Guyod
Talip
Musa acuminata Baukas Pisang Buloh 1 Pisang Bilitung Chuoi La Rung
Triploid AAA Binalatong Pisang Tualang Pisang Byok Chuoi Cau Tay
(dessert) Binawe Chuoi Tieu Cao Hong
Tanggung
Umalag
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Musa x paradisiaca Chuoi Dong

Diploid AB Chuoi Lata
(dessert) Chuoi Nanh Heo
Chuoi Com Lao
Chuoi La Nang Tien
Chuoi Mit
Chuoi Thom
Diploid AB Sarocsoc
(cooking)
Musa x paradisiaca Hilao-Hinog Pisang Sri Kluai Khom Chuoi Man
Triploid AAB Reynis Pisang Lampeneng Kluai Nom Sao
(dessert)
Triploid AAB Canara Pisang Geraksa Kluai Wan Chuoi Tay Bot
(dual purpose) Pisang Raja Talong Chuoi Cha
Chuoi Xiem Mat
Triploid AAB Muracho Pisang Kastroli
11

(cooking) Popoulo

1
Sometimes eaten cooked.
Musa x paradisiaca Pitogo Kluai Namwa Dam Chuoi Mo Giang
12

Triploid ABB Kluai Namwa Khao Chuoi La

(dual purpose) Kluai Namwa Khom Chuoi Tay Tia
Chuoi Bot
Triploid ABB Moko Pisang Usuk Kluai Pluak Na Chuoi Nam
(cooking)
Tetraploid AABB Kluai Ngoen
(cooking)
Musa balbisiana Abuhon
Diploid BB
(cooking)
Diploid BB Chuoi Hot Qua Lep 2
(seeded, multi-
purpose)
Triploid BBB Bigihan
(cooking) Inabaniko
Mundo
Saba sa Hapon
Musa fehi Pisang Tongkat Langit
Kuning
Pisang Tongkat Langit
Merah
Unclassified Inambak Pisang Kates
Pisang Rojo Uter

2
Many aborted seeds; leaves are used as wrapping material, male bud is cooked as vegetable or eaten fresh in various salad preparations, pseudostems are fed to
animals, fruits with seeds eaten fresh.
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 13

numerous than ABB clones and that AB, AABB and ABBB hybrids are rare.
Two varieties of Fei bananas, Musa fehi Bert. grown in the Maluku region of
eastern Indonesia and two unclassified accessions bearing edible fruits are
likewise included in Table 5. In Southeast Asia as in South Pacific, cultivar
names consist of a generic head term meaning banana followed by secondary
terms that generally designate the clone. The cultivar names presented in Tables
3 and 4 are the terms most commonly used in the different countries of Southeast
Asia. However, synonyms also exist within each country and many publications
may have utilized the synonyms instead of the principal cultivar names adopted
in this bulletin. Table 6 enumerates 15 of the more popular cultivars in each
country of the region along with their national synonyms. The workshop refrained
from using the few internationally recognized sub-groups as the present list is
limited and ill-defined except for the Cavendish and plantains, here applied in its
broad sense and not in the strict and narrow meaning of the term. The authors
also avoided from using the system of nomenclature proposed by Simmonds
and Shepherd which replaced the species name with genome groups that could
easily lead to errors and confusion. Instead, the simple but precise and stable
method of Cheesman and the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated
Plants was adopted.

Plantains are highly priced in Southeast Asia but not common except in Java,
Indonesia. They are grown in backyards for home consumption and only a few
farmers specialize in commercial production of plantains due to their susceptibility
to pests, diseases and adverse weather conditions. The general term plantain is
applied only to a specific subgroup of cooking bananas and does not include the
numerous and divergent culinary cultivars that are very popular in Asia. On the
other hand, the term banana is not limited to the dessert varieties but also covers
all the cooking bananas, including the plantains. In other words, all plantains are
also bananas but not all bananas are plantains! This is the reason why in Southeast
Asian languages, there is no differentiation between the foreign terms banana
and plantain. The common name pisang in Malaysia and Indonesia, saging in
the Philippines, kluai in Thailand, choui in Vietnam, and chiao in China are
applicable to all dessert and cooking bananas, including plantains.
14 Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Table 5. Number of cultivars under the different species and types of edible bananas.

Species Genome Type Cultivars with Unique Total

Synonyms Cultivars
Musa acuminata AA Dessert 17 16 33
Dual purpose 2 - 2
Cooking - 4 4
AA/AAA Dessert 2 - 2
AAA Dessert 14 12 26
Musa x paradisiaca AB Dessert - 7 7
Cooking - 1 1
AAB Dessert 7 7 14
Dual purpose - 7 7
Cooking 8 3 11
ABB Dual purpose 3 8 11
Cooking 5 4 9
AABB Cooking - 1 1
ABBB Cooking 1 - 1
Musa balbisiana BB Cooking - 2 2
BBB Cooking 9 4 13
Total 68 76 144
Musa fehi - 2 2
Unclassified - 3 2
Grand Total 68 81 149

Summary

The curators of national banana variety collections in Southeast Asia evaluated

the existing banana classification schemes and agreed on a common and
standardized format which is simple but precise and stable system of
nomenclature to identify the species and cultivars of banana.

The three tier system using species, genome group and cultivar was adopted.
Following Cheesmans recommendations, the edible diploid and triploid derivatives
of Musa acuminata Colla and Musa balbisiana Colla will adopt the scientific
name of their respective wild parents. The hybrids of the two species will be
classified under Musa x paradisiaca Linn as recognized by the International
Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (Trehane, 1995).

The banana taxonomists of the region identified 68 cultivars with synonyms in

Southeast Asia and listed them in Table 3. Many other cultivars were found to
be unique to the countries of the region and 81 varietal names are presented in
Table 4.

Table 5 presents a total of 149 distinct banana cultivars of Southeast Asia under
the three recognized species and nine genome groups. The data shows that
diploid acuminata clones are the most numerous, followed by triploid acuminata
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 15

Table 6. The popular cultivars in Southeast Asia and their synonyms.

Common Names Synonyms

Philippines Latundan Tundan, Turdan, Suring
Lakatan Mapang
Bugulan Bulugan, Balagon
Sulay Baguio Tampuhin, Po-ot
Inarnibal Seorita, Monkoy
Tudlo Datu Morong Datu
Ternate Gloria, Angao
Katali Lagkitan
Laknau Darayan, Maybay
Matavia Dacosta, Galagan
Katsila Sabang Kastila
Turangkog Calibo, Sab-a
Pelipia Pinipita, Pelipita
Tindok Tondoc
Saba Dippig
Malaysia Pisang Mas P. Mas Besar, P. Mas Kampung
P. Empat Puluh Hari P. Boyan
P. Rastali P. Kelat Keling
P. Embun P. Bunga
P. Masak Hijau P. Jelai
P. Awak P. Kelat Siam
P. Raja P. Raja Talun
P. Jari Buaya P. Rotan
P. Raja Udang Hijau P. Mundam, P. Minyak Laut
P. Keling P. Ceylon
P. Abu Keling P. Kelat Abu
P. Nipah P. Abu Nipah
P. Gading P. Relong
P. Abu Siam P. Benggala Barat
P. Serendah P. Kapal
Indonesia Pisang Ambon P. Ambon Kuning
P. Badak P. Morosebo
P. Uli P. Jantan
P. Mas P. Emas, Amasan
P. Raja P. Raja Bulu
P. Udang P. Potho Merah, P. Kidang
P. Telor P. Potho Hijau
P. Nangka P. Lampeng
P. Siem P. Longok
P. Kosta P. Kepok Hijau
P. Kosta Putih P. Kepok Awu
P. Kepok P. Kepok Putih, P. Sabah
P. Lampung P. Berlin
P. Jari Buaya P. Rejang
P. Pinang P. Jambe
16 Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

Thailand Kluai Khai K. Jek Bong, K. Kra

K. Lep Mu Nang K. Mak
K. Thong Ruang K. Khai Thong Ruang
K. Hom Thong K. Hom
K. Hom Khieo K. Khieo, K. Khrao
K. Hom Khom K. Hom Tia, K. Tia
K. Nak K. Khrang
K. Lanka K. Chin
K. Nam Thai K. Hom Lek
K. Namwa K. Tai
K. Lep Chang Kut K. Lep Chang, K. Ko
K. Khai Bong K. Khai Pra Ta Bong
K. Hak Muk Khao K. Hak Muk
K. Hak Muk Khieo K. Som
K. Thepparot K. Tiparot, K. Pli Hai
Vietnam Chuoi Tay But C. Cam
C. Ngu Thoc C. Ngu
C. Tieu Lun C. Gia Lun
C. Tieu Vua C. Gia Huong
C. Tieu Cao #1 C. Gia
C. Man C. Man Com
C. Tay C. Su
C. Ngop Lun C. Ngop
C. Mat C. La Mat
C. Mat Boket C. La
C. Trung C. Tieu Den
C. Tien C. Tien Hue
C. Tay Bot C. Tay Tieu
C. Nam C. Gao

cultivars. The pure acuminatas clearly predominate in number over the

balbisiana clones and their hybrids. Another interesting observation is that
practically all the acuminata cultivars are dessert bananas, with the exception
of two dual purpose clones and four cooking varieties, three of which have
distinctive yellow bracts. On the other hand, all the pure balbisianas are culinary
varieties. Bananas that are consumed either fresh or cooked are common
among the hybrids. Some of the AAB hybrids are eaten fresh while none of the
ABB cultivars are considered dessert bananas.

The great wealth of Musa germplasm in Southeast Asia includes some of the
rarest and most unique cultivars of banana in the world. The Pisang Kates of
Indonesia bear large, solitary fruits per hand and the fingers look like small
papaya. Kates mean papaya. The Fei bananas of eastern Indonesia bears
upright fruit bunches. The local name Pisang Tongkat Langit means banana that
face the sky or reaching towards heaven. On the other hand, the Pisang Seribu
of Malaysia bears long and extended fruit bunches that hang and continuously
Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia 17

grows and produces miniature fruits until almost touching the ground. Pisang
Seribu means banana with a thousand fruits. The very rare Pisang Rojo Uter of
Indonesia produces a continuous hand of fruits that spiral around the fruit stalk
from base to tip of bunch. The Pitogo of the Philippines bears fruits that are
almost spherical in shape, just like the betel nut, while the Binendito or Inabaniko
cultivar is distinguished by the fused fingers of all the individual fruits in one
hand. Abaniko means fan in Filipino. The Pastilan in southern Philippines
produces two or more bunches of fruit per plant. Thailand is the origin of the
notoriously unstable Kluai Tiparot. This tetraploid cultivar can produce fruit
bunches either with or without a male bud. Bunches with no male buds are
upright and normally produce two hands of large-size fruits. Normal bunches
with male buds are pendant and produce five to seven hands of regular-size
fruits. Sometimes the rachis of a normal fruit bunch will split and produce two
or more male buds. Another unstable character is the red coloration of the
cultivar Morado. Aside from variations in color intensity, the red color of the
entire plant occasionally reverts back to green. The interesting cultivar of
Vietnam is Chuoi Hot Qua Lep, a balbisiana clone with many soft, aborted
seeds cultivated in backyards for multifarious household uses. The leaves are
used as wrapping material, male bud is cooked as vegetable or eaten fresh in
various salad preparations, and the pseudostems are fed to animals. Chuoi Hot
Qua Lep is in transition from natural, wild balbisiana species to a horticultural
balbisiana variety through human selection.

The curators of national banana variety collections of Southeast Asia are holders
of the original and authentic accessions of Southeast Asian Musa germplasm.
They offer assistance in the proper identification of banana cultivars that originated
from the region. They also recommend the development and adoption of a
referral system wherein banana taxonomists from the other regions of the world
could get advice on the correct identity of banana varieties from the concerned
national curator.

The banana taxonomists of Southeast Asia recommend the identification of

synonyms that exist in the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar
and possibly China. Equal importance should be given to the problem of synonymy
in the South Pacific. The participation of a national curator in Southeast Asia is
suggested to facilitate the eventual integration of banana cultivar names and
synonyms in Asia and the Pacific.
18 Banana Names and Synonyms in Southeast Asia

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